His second sight surfaced, and he Soul Searched. It came easy to him now. The colors of Dyna’s soul illuminated inside of her as she slept. He listened to her gentle breathing, studied the soft curves of her face. Everything about her was a force that pulled him in, drawing him helplessly like a weed starved for sunlight.
Every rational thought told him he should go back to the floor. He shouldn’t get close to her. He couldn’t afford to. Each second he lay beside her was torture. Every minute he didn’t move away was another step he took toward crossing lines he shouldn’t cross. Allowing whatever this was wouldn’t end well for either of them. Even as he told himself this, Cassiel settled his head on the pillows.
He had to stay. It wasn’t easy protecting someone. Though, it’s easy to say you would. It was harder to do it. If protecting her meant she was free from fear, free to smile and laugh and hope for the future, then he didn’t care how black his soul became. He would stay by her side until whatever end.
Such a thoughtless declaration.
“What are you doing to me?” Cassiel whispered.
He forgot what he was and who he was meant to be when in her presence. His eyes fell on Dyna’s lips, and he had the insane need to know how they would feel against his own. Such a thing could only bring him to ruin. As Cassiel looked at her and wondered why she affected him so, he had no other answer but one.
“You are made of magic.”
Sleep came to him soon after, taking him into a dream where he had the courage to dare.
Chapter 43
Lucenna
Lucenna yawned, squinting against the rays of the morning sun streaming in through the glass-stained windows. It filtered blue light across the wooden floor of her room. Sitting at the small bureau across the bed to brush her hair, her temple pulsed with Lucien’s call. She pulled out her illuminated orb from her satchel, and the white fog within cleared.
“Good morrow, dear brother of mine.” Lucenna set down the orb in front of her and ran a brush through her silvery locks. She smiled, remembering how Lucien had broken another orb at the revelation of Azeran’s map. He was ecstatic, to say the least. “Dyna isn’t with me at the moment. Therefore, you’re graced with my presence instead.”
“Unfortunately, I’m calling on a serious matter,” Lucien said. At his tone, she focused on his tense expression. He sat at his desk with the morning light glinting on his irises.
“Forgive me for not contacting you sooner,” she said. “We made it to the city. All is well.”
“No, I’m afraid it isn’t.”
Lucenna put down the brush. “What do you mean? What happened?”
Lucien leaned in closer to whisper, “Early this morn, father received a letter by a courier portal, and he immediately called to have an audience with the Archmage and Prince Everest.”
At the mention of her betrothed, she fidgeted with her engagement ring. “Why?”
“I know not, but I don’t think it’s good. The Archmage is old and losing patience with father for not locating you. Prince Everest is of age to rule. However, he needs to wed before he can ascend to the throne to fortify his reign. There is no other Transcendent to replace you. The Archmage is considering passing the throne to Ender.”
“Ender? But he’s second born.”
“And he’s wed to a Transcendent,” Lucien said. “If she conceives, Everest may lose his position as heir apparent.”
The reminder of princess Ava made Lucenna scowl. She’d rather not think of her old friend and the pain she caused her brother. But Lucien continued without a shift in his expression.
“Father is desperate, Lu. If you’re no longer the future queen, he will lose his position at court and his position as Head of the Lunar Guild. He is using every spell imaginable to find you. When he received that notice this morning, he was thrilled. Whatever it was, I have an unsettling feeling about it.”
Lucenna frowned. “But I have been careful. I’ve made sure of it.”
“Where are you now?”
“I’m in the tavern with the others. We will board the next ship to Dwarf Shoe today.”
“Good. Don’t linger, please. Depart from that city without delay.”
“I will.”
Lucien glanced at something behind him. “I have to go. Stay safe.”
His image disappeared, and the crystal orb cleared. Lucenna stared at her engagement ring, absorbing what she heard. If the Archmage forced Everest to abdicate the throne, that meant her father would no longer hunt her. She could at last be with Everest without any political conflict. This must be what he meant.
